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Clock ticking for B&NES boundaries consultation.

There is still time for local people to tell the independent Local Government Boundary Commission for England where they think new council ward boundaries should be drawn across Bath and North East Somerset.

The Commission is asking people and organisations for their help to produce a new pattern of wards for 59 councillors: six fewer than the current set up.

Professor Colin Mellors, Chair of the Commission, said: “We are asking local people and organisations to help us draw up a new pattern of council wards for the whole council area.

“We want to hear local views on where people think the focal point of their community is and where the natural boundaries between communities might lie.

“As we draw new boundaries, we will try to ensure that each councillor represents roughly the same number of voters. We also aim to produce a pattern of wards that reflects the interests and identities of local communities

“The Commission will carefully consider all evidence presented to it during this phase of the review whoever it is from and whether it applies to the whole of Bath and North East Somerset or just a small part of it.”

The Commission is gathering local views before it draws up draft recommendations for a new pattern of wards which is due to be published in December. Local residents and organisations will then get another chance to have their say in a further round of consultation.

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England is responsible for reviewing local authority electoral arrangements, defining boundaries for local elections and the number of councillors to be elected, as well as conducting reviews of local government external boundaries and structures.

The aim of an electoral review is to provide for ‘electoral equality’; that means each councillor representing approximately the same number of electors. The Commission must also have regard to community identity and interests and providing effective and convenient local government.

The types of questions the Commission is asking residents at this stage are:

Do you have suggestions about where your ward boundaries should be?

Which areas do you identify as your local community?

Where do people in your area go to access local facilities such as shops and leisure activities?

Residents have until 2 October 2017 to have their say about where ward boundaries for Bath and North East Somerset’s 59 councillors should be drawn. The Commission will then publish its draft recommendations in December 2017 and open a further phase of consultation with local people. New wards are scheduled to come into effect at the 2019 local elections.